How often should I clean my gutters?
The gutters of homes in the Twin Cities area can get clogged with debris throughout the year. This happens most often in spring, when blossoms and seed pods drop, and in fall, when dead leaves and needles are often blown into gutters. However, gutters can get clogged up at any time of year, especially if there are tall trees around the home. Clogged gutters can’t keep up with heavy rain or snowmelt, which could result in your home flooding.
You should clean your gutters at least twice a year to prevent them from clogging up. The best times to clean your gutters are in early spring and late fall, when they’re likely to be holding the most debris. However, depending on the location of your home and the frequency of storms throughout the year, you may need to clean out gutters more often.
If there are many large trees in your yard or on nearby properties, you may need to clean your gutters 3-4 times a year. This is especially important if you have oak, maple, pine, or cottonwood trees, which drop lots of leaves, needles, acorns, and seed pods. On the other hand, if your home is in an isolated area with few trees around, you may only need to clean gutters once a year or less.
Signs that your gutters should be cleaned immediately include:
- Water is spilling over the sides of gutters every time it rains.
- Your gutters are sagging – a common side of heavy debris and standing water.
- Weeds or saplings are visibly growing out of your gutters.
- Your siding has been stained because of gutter leakage.
- Mosquitoes are more active in your yard; these pests often breed in standing water trapped in clog gutters.
If your gutters are constantly getting clogged or have been damaged by a severe storm, Galvin Home Renovations can help. Reach out to us today if you’re in need of gutter replacement or maintenance services in the greater Twin Cities area!
